Intelligent speed regulator

Abstract

A monitor detects a speed of a vehicle for controlling a speed regulator. A speed regulator controller configures a speed regulator based on the detected speed, the speed regulator being configurable to inflate to an extended configuration and deflate to a retracted configuration, the speed regulator controller configured to inflate the speed regulator to the extended configuration in a first mode and to deflate the speed regulator to the retracted configuration in the first mode based on the detected speed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
 a speed regulator configurable to inflate to an extended configuration and deflate to a retracted configuration; 
 a monitor to detect a speed of a vehicle; and 
 a speed regulator controller to configure the speed regulator based on the detected speed, the speed regulator controller configured to inflate the speed regulator to the extended configuration in a first mode and to deflate the speed regulator to the retracted configuration in the first mode based on the detected speed. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a default configuration of the speed regulator is one of fully retracted, partially retracted, or extended. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the speed regulator is inflated into the extended configuration in response to the vehicle passing the speed regulator. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the speed regulator is maintained in an extended configuration in response to the vehicle exceeding a defined speed. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the speed regulator is deflated in response to the vehicle traveling at a speed less than a defined speed. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the speed regulator is maintained in the retracted configuration in response to the vehicle traveling at a speed less than a defined speed. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the speed regulator is maintained in an existing configuration in response to the vehicle being within a predefined distance of the speed regulator. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the speed regulator is deflated in a second mode in response to the vehicle being within a predefined distance of the speed regulator and a speed of the vehicle meeting predefined criteria. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the speed regulator is inflated in a second mode in response to the vehicle being within a predefined distance of the speed regulator and a speed of the vehicle meeting predefined criteria. 
     
     
       10. A method for controlling a speed regulator, the method comprising:
 detecting a speed of a vehicle; and 
 deflating a speed regulator in a first mode based on the detected speed, the speed regulator being under a control of a speed regulator controller and being configurable to inflate to an extended configuration and deflate to a retracted configuration. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising inflating the speed regulator into the extended configuration in response to the vehicle passing the speed regulator. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising maintaining the speed regulator in the extended configuration in response to the vehicle exceeding a defined speed. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising deflating the speed regulator in response to the vehicle traveling at a speed less than a defined speed. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising maintaining the speed regulator in the retracted configuration in response to the vehicle traveling at a speed less than a defined speed. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising retracting the speed regulator: when the vehicle is a defined distance from the speed regulator, at a specified amount of time after the vehicle is first detected, or based on an estimated time of the vehicle encountering the speed regulator. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising maintaining the speed regulator in an existing configuration in response to the vehicle being within a predefined distance of the speed regulator. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising inflating the speed regulator in a second mode in response to a speed of the vehicle violating predefined criteria. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising deflating the speed regulator in a second mode in response to the vehicle passing the speed regulator. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising deflating the speed regulator in a second mode in response to the vehicle being within a predefined distance of the speed regulator and a speed of the vehicle meeting predefined criteria. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising inflating the speed regulator in a second mode in response to the vehicle being within a predefined distance of the speed regulator and a speed of the vehicle meeting predefined criteria. 
     
     
       21. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising instructions, which when implemented by one or more machines, cause the one or more machines to perform operations comprising:
 detecting a speed of a vehicle; and 
 deflating a speed regulator in a first mode based on the detected speed, the speed regulator being under a control of a speed regulator controller and being configurable to inflate to an extended configuration and deflate to a retracted configuration.